(La Porte County, IN) - The cause of a barn fire that claimed the lives of farm animals in Mill Creek this week may never be known.

 

Pleasant Township Fire Chief Kevin Bluhm said the Indiana State Fire Marshal’s office came out to help his department and other agencies investigate the site, which consisted of two barns next to each other.

 

However, Bluhm said there was too much destruction to be able to find a potential source of the flames so the cause was ruled undetermined.

 

The Sunday evening blaze claimed the lives of five pigs and four goats the Tuholski family was raising for use in 4-H. Over ten cats also perished.

 

Owner Larry Tuholski said three sheep are recovering from smoke inhalation and having some of their wool scorched by the fire.

 

He said the sheep would have died if not for La Porte County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Hisick removing them from their pens next to blaze and placing them over a fence away a safe distance away.

 

The Tuholski family raises corn, soybeans and popcorn on more than 5,000 acres.